Why choosing the right Design Education Provider is crucial for a student’s success
In today’s highly competitive world, the careers that parents wish their child to pursue usually involve some form of academic inclination towards the popular Math or Science streams. Some may jump to the conclusion that if a child does not possess the gift for either of these subject streams, he or she will be at a disadvantage when it comes to earning a good living and building a successful career. However, such a notion is wrong. In today’s diverse business world, there is another gift that a child can use to become very successful in life – creativity. With the proper guidance and education in Design, a creative or artistically-inclined child can become a designer, have a very successful career and earn a good living. In every country there are individuals who are not business or tech savvy but who have been blessed with a creative mind. These individuals must be taught how to use their gift to realize their true talent and aspirations, enabling them to become successful entrepreneurs who change the world and make it a better place for all to live in.
Sri Lanka is an emerging market with huge potential. Today, Sri Lanka offers plenty of prospects when it comes to employment opportunities in designing. While the number of design related jobs are increasing, so is the competition as students from various design institutes, some of them questionable ones, compete for these lucrative jobs. For a student to have the best opportunity at finding a job at a reputed company with good career prospects, he or she should have the right qualification from the right institute. And with the preference of employers to go for younger candidates, it is crucial that students who enter the field of design do not “waste time” pursuing below-par courses at fashion academies with questionable quality in delivery. The right degree obtained at the right time will ensure that the student will be in the best possible position to land the job he or she desires, without being left to take up a job outside his or her field of expertise.
Within this context following are excerpts from an interview carried with Current Students in the Design Arena who have studied in various Design schools and finally settled at Raffles Colombo to complete their Education in Design. Sahani Sumanasena – Fashion Design Student, Vindya Perera – Fashion Design Student and President Student Council Raffles Colombo and Vinoda Godamunne - Fashion Marketing & Management Student.
Q. What is your background and how did you come to join Raffles Colombo?
Sahani: Given my background and especial- ly with my father in the textile and fabric material business, I wanted to get into fashion designing. He constantly motivates me to work hard, advices me to study and learn everything from the basics, thereby setting a solid foundation for future growth. I studied at Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya. After my A/Ls I hastily joined a fashion designing academy, where unfortunately after studying for 2 years I had to give up on due to a shortcoming of that institute. So, this time I did my research thoroughly and decided to join Raffles Colombo to fast track my education in Fashion Design and obtain a reputable Australian Degree. I got to know about Raffles through my friend Jayani who owns her own label “Rococo”. I want to start my own fashion label after my studies in Fashion Design.
Vindya: I wanted to follow fashion designing but initially followed a jewellery design course at another design institute instead of following the Foundation Course at Raffles Colombo. Because of some concerns I had with the other institute, I decided to switch to Raffles as I felt that Raffles offered me exactly what I was looking for. I am happy to say that I completed my Advanced Diploma at Raffles and currently I am working at Hirdaramani on an internship.
Vinoda: I studied at CIS, and I joined a fashion academy which seemed promising. Later on, I realized that it was not up to the required standard and quite disorganized to be honest. I then looked around and thought of joining Raffles Colombo after carefully evaluating my options. Although I picked the right institute, it was a spur of the moment when I decided to do Fashion Marketing and Management.
Q. What are your views on the lecturers and study approach at Raffles Colombo?
Sahani: After joining Raffles I understood the importance of the concept of a focused classroom and the student to lecturer ratio and relationship, all of which are top notch at Raffles in my opinion. This provides us easy access and confidence to connect, inquire and clarify any issue with our lecturer. Meticulous individual attention is an important aspect when you are in a designing school. Required recognition is also given at Raffles, through high quality education and strict semester evaluations. The value of lecturers being there, from the beginning, through to the end of your project is a great feeling. This helps us to correct ourselves, share our thoughts as we progress through our projects. And with the Apparel industry showing huge potential for good quality designers in Sri Lanka, I am sure that I’ve made the right choice in career and the institute.
Vindya: What is remarkable is that whatever we studied at Raffles has come to play in my work environment, which is something I didn’t expect to happen so soon. Raffles Management and lecturers are very understanding. If we need any help they are all available any time. My experience of working with the community through our group work project, where we collected funds to help the needy, is now turning out to be a grand charity exhibition with the help of the entire campus. In addition, we have the Student Council which is an academic focused group which acts as an intermediary helping students with academic issues and representing these issues with the lecturers or the Raffles Management. Every class has a Student Council Representative, opening up a dialogue to address key issues with the management. This is, in my opinion, a bold move which provides a greater assurance for students like us. We also organize events, gatherings and student delight programmes. This opens up the whole college providing ample opportunity for all to network and get to know each other. This is important to all of us as we all will be leaders in our own avenues in the future, especially when you are in the field of design. My advice to anyone interested is to explore your avenues, don’t stick to one goal especially when you’re in designing. Your opportunities are endless in this field.
Vinoda: The atmosphere here is relaxing, very structured and organized. The Raffles curricular is more structured, and motivates me to work. The lecturers’ communication is quite impressive. I plan to travel to Raffles Sydney. Through Raffles, you get a lot of exposure, which helps us to connect with the industry and also grow with innovation. Quality of education is important, and Raffles has helped me to work with real life projects with industry connections. You definitely evolve as a person through these practical exercises. For our final project we have to develop our very own business plan and if all goes well I might even stick with it. I am hoping to get into advertising or publishing for my internship which is due next year for me. I am confident that I will be able to find an opening in either field.
Raffles Colombo provides students with a creative, enriching learning environment along with state-of-the-art facilities. These include student administrative services and counseling, a student governing body, international lecturers, a quality- based delivery structure and internal and external benchmarking. The campus is equipped with fashion design equipment, design studios, Mac and PC labs, student facilities, and a library. Students can gain international experience through exchange programmes at any other college within the Raffles network, which spans 34 colleges in 31 cities across 12 countries.